Mark was an influence on the founding fathers of our country. What two ideas did he contribute to the enlightenment where in the founding documents of the United States do we see each of those ideas demonstrated
It seems like you might be referring to a specific individual named "Mark" who contributed ideas to the Enlightenment and the founding documents of the United States. However, there is no prominent figure named "Mark" associated with the Enlightenment or the founding of the United States. The influential figures during the Enlightenment included philosophers such as John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Montesquieu, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
Nevertheless, I can provide you with two ideas commonly attributed to Enlightenment philosophers and demonstrate where they are reflected in the founding documents of the United States:
1. Social Contract Theory/Consent of the Governed: This idea, popularized by philosophers like John Locke and Rousseau, suggests that governments derive their authority from the consent of the people they govern. This principle is evident in the Declaration of Independence, particularly in the opening lines stating, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."
2. Separation of Powers/Checks and Balances: Montesquieu's idea of the separation of powers, aimed at preventing any one branch of government from becoming too powerful, heavily influenced the framers of the United States Constitution. This concept is embedded in the Constitution's design of three separate branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial. Each branch has distinct powers and responsibilities, and they are designed to check and balance each other. The clearest example of this can be found in Article I, Section 1 of the Constitution, which establishes the legislative branch, and Article II, Section 1, which establishes the executive branch.
Please note that while these ideas align with the Enlightenment principles, it is important to remember that various Enlightenment philosophers had different perspectives and not all of their ideas made their way directly into the founding documents.